1st visit to the dentist

I think Brandon enjoyed his first visit to the dentist. He got to wear a necklace (paper napkin) he got to squirt the water, have his teeth counted, look at his teeth in a mirror, and ride on the chair. I hope that when we have to go for the real deal he will still like visiting!

Story time with daddy

Jared has taken over the bedtime routine with Brandon. I love the time they are spending together reading fun stories but I especially love that Jared is being introduced to the wonderful world of childrens literature. I love hearing them both laugh when they read a funny book - like the one Grandma Johnson gave Brandon "A Porcupine Named Fluffy" there were some noisy giggles coming out of the bedroom the first night they read that book. ;) Some of their favorites are; "The Red Ripe Strawberry, The Little Mouse, and The Big Hungry Bear", "Giggle Giggle Quake", Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale", and "The Very Busy Spider". So what are some of your childrens favorite books? We would love suggestions for when we go to the library.

How to turn your bathtub into a love seat

Step 1 - find a comfortable overstuffed ottoman
Step 2 - place it in the bathtub
Step 3 cover it with a large blanket and WA LA!! you have a very comfy love seat in your bathroom perfect for POTTY PARTIES!!

I am sure there are much much better ways for potty training little boys, but this is what came to me and I went with it. I don't think overkill explains how ridiculous our Potty Party was. We ate our meals in the bathroom (I know - gross!) We watched hundreds of movies in the bathroom, we read a whole lot of books, and played with lots and lots of toys. Every time Brandon went in the potty he got a sticker on his chart, a sucker, and a present. (don't get to excited, the presents were toys he already had, rewrapped, but he loved the wrapping paper :)) We also played instruments and did a dance and cheer for every success. To top it off, if he went #2 in the potty he also got to pop a balloon. We had a lot of success the first week while we were stuck in the bathroom, but as we ventured out things became a little more tricky, however I am happy to say that he is mostly potty trained - we are just working on #2 and potty training away from home. I am happy with the progress Brandon is making but if anyone has tips for these last few steps I would love to hear them! Yeah Brandon!!!!

Special Visitors

Grant has some wonderful great-grand-parents! Three great-grandmas, and two great-grandpas who are so wonderful! It was so wonderful to have Grandma and Grandpa Johnson come with Aunt Christy to visit! I love this picture of all of them - their smiles just make me happy!!!

Brotherly Love

I can not say whether this Brotherly Love extends both ways, but Brandon sure does love and adore his little brother! Grant I suspect tolerates his older brother right now, but hopefully they will become fast friends as they get older. I love how happy Brandon is when he gets to hold his little brother.

I need to video tape my swaddling methods because I have learned they are very funny (or perhaps a little disturbing. :) ) but for whatever reason both of my boys love to be wrapped up tight - VERY TIGHT! Brandon has outgrown the tight swaddling but it was still fun to pretend to be a baby again. :)

Brandon loves to show off his little brother to everyone, and must be close by at all times. He is also careful to make sure that Grant is never left out of anything; anytime I mention something about Brandon, Brandon will always add "and Grant" for example if I say "mommy loves Brandon" I hear "and Grant?!", or Brandon is such a big boy! - and Grant?!, or does Brandon want to play with McKell - and Grant?!. I hope this desire to always include his younger brother continues to be fun and important as they get older.

I love these boys!!!

WELCOME BABY GRANT!!

Baby Grant entered our little family on Tuesday morning at 8:31. He was 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. He has the same dark hair and funny cowlick as his brother Brandon.Jared was a great daddy from the get go! Grant's first bathThis delivery was so much better than it was with Brandon. After he was delivered I was able to see him and give him kisses before they took him away for the bath and more testing. With Brandon sadly I did not get to see him until a few hours latter because I was in shock - literally. As soon as Grant was done with his tests and bath I was able to hold him and feed him - I am so happy this delivery was so much better!!!!!Dr. Berg! Yeah for having a great family doctor!! For the past month Brandon has been telling us "Dr. Berg, Baby Grant, Out mommies tummy, Now!" I love that Brandon knows the doctor who delivered him and his brother and that he gets to visit with him often!Brandon spent the week at Grandma Julie's and Grandpa Ron's house sharing a room with Aunt Lindsey while I was in the hospital! Thanks so much mom and dad for helping us out!!!! They brought Brandon up Tuesday night to see his little brother. It was love at first sight! Brandon loves his little brother, and Jared and I were surprised by the gentle side Brandon showed to his brother.Grandma Julie and Grandpa RonAunt Lindsey with her third nephew - she is such a darling aunt!!!!Aunt Natalie - also a great Aunt!Baby Grant gave Brandon some more Thomas TrainsOur new family!Baby Grant all bundled up to go home!

Top Five Reasons For Not Blogging

It has been well over a month since my last post - I hate getting behind but I feel I have some good reasons or at least some interesting excuses.

#5 The Holidays -

We enjoyed every minute of our very long holiday break - Jared was able to get a lot of time off so we spent nearly two weeks enjoying each others company and the company of friends and family. Brandon was of course spoiled by all who love him. His favorite toys were; the large tunnel and tent system from Grandma Julie and Grandpa Ron, many new trains and track for his Thomas the Train set from Grandma Dee Ann and Grandpa Wyn, and lots of new plastic animals from me and Jared. Jared and I also enjoyed many new fun gifts and money to pay for them from Parents and Grandparents. We were richly blessed! Feeding the ducks was deffinatly a highlight to our trip in Idaho Falls! Brandon would have spent hours chasing the ducks and feeding regardless of how cold it was.

#4 Having Too Much Fun Playing with Brandon

Brandon and I have kept busy playing in the snow, watching fun movies, visiting family and friends, and going on outings to the library, aquarium, and store (it really is a lot of fun). I love spending time with him - his personality surprises me every day, and the speed with which young children learn astounds me!!!

Brandon surprised me when we were waiting in the parking lot at Toys R Us while Jared went to hunt for some "CARS" toy cars. From the back seat I hear "T" it took me a few minutes to realize what he was pointing at then I replied "yes Brandon that is a T. Shortly after "O" , and then "S" I was not at all surprised that he skipped Y I have never taught that one to him but only a few seconds later he said "Y". Imagine my surprise! He may not have had them in order but he still knew those letters, I was so proud! Unfortunately I can not take all the credit Super Why and Word World are some great TV shows that help with the letters, and he loves them!!! I never thought I would say it - but HOORAY FOR TV!

#3 I am in my ninth month of pregnancy - enough said!!

This pregnancy has been much more difficult than it was with Brandon. I have been far more tired, had many more strange and lasting sicknesses (which I wont go into) and general discomforts. But I only have two more days to go. We have scheduled the C-section for Tuesday morning bright and early at 6:00am. We can hardly wait to welcome our second little boy into our family!

#2 Transitions

In an effort to make room for baby we have moved Brandon from his crib into a big boy bed and a new room. The transition was surprisingly easy and pleasant. Brandon had lots of fun helping me assemble his bed and get his room ready. He really did help me build the bed, he even started on one of the steps without my assistance and did it right - yes is was easy, but I can still be proud right! :) Brandon loves his room so much he never misses a chance to show off his new room and new bed to all visitors. I must admit I am also very pleased with the turn out of his new room - it was done with a budget, and so I tried my hand at painting for the art and it actually looks nice - Hooray! He looks so cute all snuggled in. He likes his room so much he will actually play in it for more that five minutes without me - this is huge! He and his friend looked so cute reading books in his bed with his cars table! I love it!!Because Brandon transitioned into the only other room in our house we had to move the office into our bedroom - Yuck We spent a few weeks with a much too big roll top, then we sold the roll top and used a card table, and now finally I am writing to you from our new desk which brings us to Excuse #1 for not blogging.

#1 NESTING

This instinct always hits hard for me the last month and this month has been no exception. Just this week I have: scrubbed the kitchen floors (they changed colors), scrubbed the stove, oven, microwave, and fridge, organized the kitchen and laundry cupboards, organized the closet in the guest bathroom, washed the sheets for our bedroom, cleaned the major windows inside and out, cleaned the fish tank, and best of all assembled a very complicated desk all by myself - in Brandon words -"I do it!" Yes I am proud of myself - probably too proud- but I have never attempted something like this before. I still have many more things that I hope to finish like; cleaning both bathrooms, giving Maggie a bath, installing safety latches, dusting EVERYTHING, and updating my blog - yes check! ;)

Now I would like to say that I will not neglect my blog again but with another baby on the way who knows? I will for sure post pictures and stats of baby when all is said and done - till then I enjoy reading all of your blogs and hearing all of the good and bad that is happening in your life!